Kumasi to Shut Down September 18 for Final Rites of Asantehemaa Nana Konadu Yiadom III

The Manhyia Palace has directed that all schools, banks, shops, markets, and commercial centers in the Kumasi Metropolis remain closed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, as the Ashanti Kingdom prepares to bid a final farewell to the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

The funeral rites, which began on Sunday, September 14, will culminate on Thursday with sacred rituals led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Thousands of mourners from across Ghana and beyond are expected to gather in Kumasi to pay their respects to the late Queen Mother, who served the Ashanti Kingdom with distinction from 2017 until her passing in 2025 at the age of 98.

In line with tradition, the palace has ordered a suspension of all social and commercial activities on the final day. Residents are also expected to observe an indoor curfew beginning at 7:00 p.m. on September 18, lasting until 4:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19. Palace officials describe this sacred period as essential for ensuring a peaceful transition for the revered Asantehemaa.

On the evening of the final rites, the body of Nana Konadu Yiadom III will be moved from the Manhyia Palace’s Dwaberem to the Bantama Royal Mausoleum for ceremonial rituals before proceeding to the Breman Royal Mausoleum for burial.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Chairman of the funeral planning committee and Paramount Chief of the Bompata Traditional Council, Nana Effah Apenteng, urged residents to fully comply with the directives. He emphasized that the closures are not just logistical but deeply symbolic—meant to honor the memory of the late Queen Mother and uphold Asante traditions with dignity and reverence.